By Criztalene Victorio

Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN), and Ilocos Norte Federated 4-H Clubs formally forged a partnership for the implementation of Project AgriLEAD: Empowering 4-H Clubs through Agribusiness Leadership and Enterprise Development in Ilocos Norte on August 7 at the MMSU Center for Flexible Learning.

AgriLEAD is an MMSU extension initiative that aims to strengthen agribusiness ventures and develop entrepreneurial capacities of the selected 4-H youths of Ilocos Norte. Through this initiative, chosen members will enrich their agricultural knowledge through capacity-building activities, monitoring sessions, technical assistance, and institutional linkages.

The 4-H Club is a global youth development organization that stands for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. In the Philippines, it spearheads activities such as the 4-H Livelihood Assistance Program, AgriKids Campaign, and Filipino Young Farmers Internship Program in Taiwan with a focus on leadership, agriculture, and community service.

Toward this end, MMSU, PGIN, and Ilocos Norte Federated 4-H Clubs signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA). Signing on behalf of the three parties were MMSU President Virgilio Julius P. Manzano, Jr., Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, and 4-H Federation President Martin Xavier Vea.

Under the pact, MMSU will spearhead conducting assessments, monitoring, and evaluations; developing training modules; providing trainers and logistics support; and linking partner agencies for the beneficiaries, in pursuance of the university’s comprehensive community service goal under the SUCCEED agenda.

The Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte, through the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), pledged to help in the pre-evaluation of beneficiaries and provide technical assistance and starter kits. Meanwhile, it is the Federation’s responsibility to endorse qualified participants for the project and sustain its implementation.

During the ceremony, Dr. Manzano, Jr. recalled the 4-H Club Federation’s contribution to pursuing Agricultural Engineering, having been a former 4-H Club member in Batac himself. He also emphasized the Federation’s role in empowering young people to pursue their chosen career paths through its continued support.

Moreover, Gov. Marcos commended the project for providing the youth of Ilocos Norte with an opportunity to nurture their skills as future agripreneurs. She noted that the initiative is also aligned with her recent State of the Province Address (SOPA), which focused on creating initiatives that promote agricultural interests and sustainable enterprises.

Beyond collaboration, Project AgriLEAD is set to raise young, empowered, and equipped agricultural and entrepreneurial leaders, reaching more sustainable and productive agricultural endeavors in the province.

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